Cash Back Credit Cards with the Best Intro Bonuses

From free flights to cash back, credit card issuers offer cardholders all kinds of rewards on their purchases these days. While many rewards credit cards offer solid ongoing rewards, some also offer intro bonuses to sweeten the deal. Also referred to as sign-up bonuses, these introductory incentives give you cash back or travel rewards once you spend a certain amount within a given time frame — for example, you may have to spend $1,000 on purchases within the first 3 months to get a $200 bonus that you can redeem in the form of a check, statement credit, merchandise or gift card. If you’re in the market for a new credit card with an impressive intro bonus, we’ve got a list of cash back credit cards with the best intro bonuses. Keep reading to learn about the top offers and how you can take advantage of them.

Winner of our Credit Card Cash Back Analysis, the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express (a NextAdvisor advertiser) is especially appealing for those who make frequent trips to the supermarket and gas station. That’s because this card earns 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 in purchases annually, then 1% after that), 3% cash back at U.S. gas station and select U.S. department stores as well as 1% cash back on all other purchases. Plus, you’ll earn a $200 bonus when you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months of account opening and get a 12-month 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers (with a balance transfer fee of 3% or $5, whichever is greater). While there is a $95 annual fee associated with this card, it’s likely still worth it for those who frequent the grocery store or gas station. If you’d like to avoid paying an annual fee, you may want to check out its no-fee sister card, the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express. This card earns similar cash back rewards, has no annual fee and offers a $150 intro bonus opportunity.

If you’re looking for a cash back rewards card with a stellar intro bonus opportunity, the Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa Card is an excellent option to consider. With this card, you’ll earn an unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases, and you’ll get 1.8% cash back on qualified mobile wallet purchases (e.g., Apple Pay and Android Pay) made in the first 12 months. The Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa Card also offers a $200 intro bonus that you can earn when you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Cardholders can also look forward to no annual fee and a 12-month 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers (with a 3% intro balance transfer fee for 12 months, then it’s 5%). Plus, if you use this card to pay your monthly cell phone bill, you’ll be eligible for Wells Fargo’s cellular phone protection, which reimburses you for any phone damage or theft (up to $600/claim with a maximum of 2 claims every 12 months). There is a $25 deductible for every claim you file, but it’s likely this fee is a lot lower than the ongoing fees you’d pay your cell phone provider for insurance. Just remember to pay your phone bill with your Wells Fargo Case Wise Visa Card every month to get this coverage.

Looking for a rewards credit card that has no annual fee and earns you cash back on a number of different purchases? If so, Chase Freedom – $150 Bonus is for you. In terms of ongoing rewards, you’ll earn 5% cash back in rotating categories (up to $1,500 in combined purchases each quarter, then it’s 1% back) — October through December of 2017, you’ll earn 5% back at Walmart and department stores, which is perfect for holiday shopping — and an unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Next, when you spend $500 in the first 3 months from account opening, you’ll get a $150 bonus. But that’s not all because when you add your first authorized user and they make their first purchase in the same 3-month period, you’ll earn an additional $25 — that brings your total intro bonus opportunity up to $175! Rewards can be redeemed for cash, travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards, gift cards or statement credit. Cardholders can also look forward to 15 months of 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers (with a 5% balance transfer fee). If you’d rather earn your cash back in fixed categories, you may be interested in Chase Freedom Unlimited, as this card earns an unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases and has the same intro bonus opportunity.

Another cash back credit card to consider is the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card. This card earns unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases and charges no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, which is ideal for world travelers. Next, cardholders who spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening will get a $150 cash back! Rounding out the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is a 9-month 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers (with a 3% balance transfer fee).

Discover it – Cashback Match is another cash back credit card that offers a unique intro bonus and some impressive cash back rewards. Cardholders will earn 5% cash back on purchases in rotating categories every quarter they activate (up to the quarterly maximum, currently $1,500, then it’s 1% back) as well as 1% cash back on everything else. As noted above, rotating categories give you the opportunity to earn cash back on a number of different purchases. For example, from October through December 2017, you’ll earn 5% cash back at Amazon.com and Target. It’s important to note that you’ll need to activate your 5% categories each quarter to receive the cash back, but Discover makes it easy to do with free automatic email reminders. While this card doesn’t offer a traditional intro bonus like the ones mentioned above, it has a unique feature called Cashback Match that will match all of the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year as a cardholder. Here’s how Cashback Match works: If, say, you’ve earned $500 in cash back during your first year, Discover will match that and give you a total of $1,000 back! This means you’re effectively earning 10% back on rotating categories and 2% cash back on all other purchases for the first year. Discover it – Cashback Match also has a 14-month 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers (with a 3% balance transfer fee) and no annual fee or foreign transaction fees.

Disclaimer: This content is not provided or commissioned by the credit card issuer. Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of the credit card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer. This content was accurate at the time of this post, but card terms and conditions may change at any time. This site may be compensated through the credit card issuer Affiliate Program.

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About Author

Jessa Barron

Jessa is a personal finance and lifestyle writer at NextAdvisor.com. Her writing has been published by The Huffington Post, Chicago Tribune, AOL.com, Elite Daily, American City Business Journals, Small Biz Daily and others. She has been interviewed by a number of news outlets, podcasts and other publications for her knowledge and expertise on everything from email marketing to consumer credit repair and debt management. Jessa graduated from Temple University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism and Mass Media, and currently resides in San Francisco. Follow her on Twitter @JessaAdvisor.

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